A MondoTunes Exclusive Press-Release Site

Tag Archives: Ms. Sunshine

The Kenyan singer and songwriter known as Ms. Sunshine has released her newest official single, “Riding Low Low.” Like the rest of Ms. Sunshine’s newest repertoire, the single has been released on the Sunny Music Records independent music label. Warm, upbeat, stylish, and full of African soul the way only Ms. Sunshine can bring, “Riding Low Low” is a pop single music fans everywhere can get behind.

Born and raised in Nairobi but residing now in Belgium, Ms. Sunshine cites as main artistic influences Ella Fitzgerald, Nina Simone, Lauryn Hill, and Erykah Badu. Her own music stands beside these legends shining with its own unique beauty and character. Fans of Ella, Nina, Lauryn and Erykah are likely to fall in love with Ms. Sunshine’s music at first listen.

“It is a message of endurance,” Ms. Sunshine says of her new single. “Endurance and consistency are required in the pursuit of happiness. It is normally the road least traveled, so this song is a dedication to all who work with determination and excellence, the creators and innovators, a song of encouragement to surround yourself with positive family and friends.”

Ms. Sunshine’s real name, Achieng’, means ‘Girl Born when the Sun Is Shining’ in her native language of Dholuo. Clearly, supporting other artists with her “Riding Low Low” single is important to her.

“Most of the time, the people closest to you may not believe in you,” writes Ms. Sunshine, “but just keep walking – it is by faith!”

In addition to the present release of “Riding Low Low,” fans can also expect the song’s official music video to drop on Labor Day, 2017 (see link to trailer below). “Riding Low Low” is produced by Phoniex. “Riding Low Low” is the latest addition to popular releases from Ms. Sunshine which include “Let It Shine,” “Mama Africa,” “Red Umbrella,” and her “Homage, African Soul Rebel” EP.

“Riding Low Low” is available from over 700 quality digital music stores online worldwide now. Get in early, pop fans.

The Kenya-born singer and songwriter known as Ms. Sunshine has released her highly awaited debut EP album, “Homage, African Soul Rebel.” The EP contains five original tracks for an approximate total listening time of 25 minutes. It has been proudly published on the Sunny Music Records independent music label. A jubilant, funky and foot-stomping example of the neo-Afro soul style of music, “Homage, African Soul Rebel” is undeniable fun and proof that Ms. Sunshine is a singer with something to offer fans of all great music.

Ms. Sunshine has cited as main artistic inspirations Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix, the Doors and Pink Floyd, Nina Simone and Miriam Makeba, Etta James and Erykah Badu, Lauryn Hill and Bob Marley, and even Sting. Many of the best qualities of these are clearly audible in “Homage, African Soul Rebel,” which Ms. Sunshine has called “my way to give my allegiance to all the artists that were before me and have heavily influenced my song writing now.”

Still, her debut EP cannot be called derivative. On the contrary, much of its sound is a new hybrid of genres which blend together to great and delightful effect. A particularly striking example exists in “Arabic Dub,” which features Mustapha Baidou and applies Arabic instrumentation and chord progressions to the dub style of music. Elements of such genres as dancehall, soul, R ‘n’ B, hip-hop, and reggae may be heard also, and the EP as a whole is as catchy and radio-friendly as modern pop music.

In addition to the appearance of Mustapha Baidou, “Homage, African Soul Rebel” also features the talents of Metaphysics Gandanga, Katrin Eggert, and executive producer Wayne Smith.

Asked to describe the themes of her debut record, Ms. Sunshine writes: “The songs I have recorded so far exemplify my personal take on life. My philosophy features ideologies from my African influences, with fusions from African-centered and Five Percent theologies, the complex views of diverse African cultural theologies and its complex interpretation of such strong cultural beliefs in our modern and evolving African culture. The majority of Ms. Sunshine music is greatly influenced by my beliefs of the Nation of Gods and Earths and my African roots and heritage.”

Living now in Belgium, Ms. Sunshine has made it her goal to translate the tone of some of the most influential music of the 1960s into music for today’s listeners, music which carries a message that speaks to today’s issues, as well.

“My mission was to bring that which was magnificently created during the ‘flower power’ movement and translate that same feeling, energy, music composition, and performances into our modern take on music production,” writes Ms. Sunshine. “My question always was, ‘How would they sound now, in this day and age?’ I wanted to keep the production to live recording by working with great musicians in the studio and also by writing music that can cause change or transformation. Music that touches one’s soul. Music that lingers on.”

“Homage, African Soul Rebel” is preceded by Ms. Sunshine’s popular singles, “Let It Shine,” “Red Umbrella” and “Mama Africa,” all of which may be heard and purchased online. An official music video has also been made available for “Mama Africa” which has nearly 100,000 views to date.

“Homage, African Soul Rebel” by Ms. Sunshine is available online worldwide. Get in early, neo-Afro soul fans. Very, very early.

The Kenyan chanteuse known as Ms. Sunshine has released her new beautiful single, “Mama Africa,” featuring Baidou. The song has been released on the Sunny Music record label. The song is a gorgeous modern pop composition showcasing the delicate, yet powerful voice of Ms. Sunshine herself, as well as an enchanting, melodious accompaniment with all the flavor traditional music of her home country has come to be known for. Equally delightful as her other recent and upcoming singles (“Red Umbrella,” “Let It Shine”), “Mama Africa” is another example of how much splendid music there is to come from this new, up-and-coming singer and songwriter.

Ms. Sunshine cites as main artistic influences legends of the silver microphone, as well as some singers to whom many music fans will not have been introduced: “Mariam Makeba, Brenda Fasi, Ella Fitzgerald, Nina Simone, Etta James, Suzanne Owiyo from Kenya,” she writes.

A steady, warm thread of healing light, life, and optimism flows from Ms. Sunshine in every part of her music. From her lilting, easy-going vocal style right down to her very name, Ms. Sunshine is a positive mark of yin in an adverse world of harsh yang. Even her birth name follows this pattern of goodness. Born Catherine Achieng’ Onyango, she writes candidly, “In my local Dhuluo dialect, ‘Achieng’’ means ‘a girl who is born when the sun is shining.’ It only became clearer that I could use ‘Ms. Sunshine’ as my artist’s name as it resonates well with my personality and birth names / rights.”

“Mama Africa is about women empowerment,” she explains. “Empowering and giving strength especially to ‘third-world’ women where their roles as women are predefined, this song is to give power to all women to take charge of their lives, families and households, for they are the foundation and education of their children. Thus [we can be] building stronger nations.”

“Mama Africa” by Ms. Sunshine and featuring Baidou is available online everywhere beginning July 2013.

-S. McCauley

Staff Press Release Writer

MondoTunes

The single “Mama Africa” is distributed globally by MondoTunes (www.MondoTunes.com) and is available at iTunes for convenient purchase and download

MondoTunes (www.mondotunes.com) supplies the largest music distribution in the world and provides upstream services for many major labels in search of breakout artists. While most independent distributors reach only 45-50 retailers despite charging needless monthly and yearly fees, MondoTunes reaches over 750 retailers and mobile partners in over 100 world regions without any monthly or yearly fees.

The artist known as Ms. Sunshine has released her newest single, titled, “Red Umbrella,” on the Sunny Music Records label. The track features fellow musician Carlprit, also. The single is an upbeat, modern reggae song with a colorful array of synth effects, sung beautifully by the chanteuse and songwriter from Belgium, Ms. Sunshine, herself.

“Red Umbrella” is a collection of exotic inspirations that include Kenyan influences as well as Caribbean, post-jazz, and gospel flavors. It is a happy, day-filled song that vibrates with life and the joy of living, not unlike its performer, Ms. Sunshine, whose moniker is more than a mere label. The song is not only for the world to enjoy, however; its themes are also somewhat personal to Ms. Sunshine, also.

“My single is about the New Me,” she writes candidly. “It is a feel-good and self-empowerment song.
I rejoice about my rebirth, and encourage others to celebrate along with me as they also embrace the positive vibes in their own lives.”

This smiling mood is ever-present in the music of Ms. Sunshine, and “Red Umbrella” serves as an excellent example of this, as well as an excellent example of the wonderful mix of musical inspirations that help her to compose such unique tones into song.

“I studied business administration and marketing in Nairobi,” Ms. Sunshine explains. “During my university years, music took a back seat and I passively self-educated on the different genres, and more-so concentrating on 50’s 60’s, and 70’s music.”

This emphasis is very apparent to music fans once “Red Umbrella” has begun. Her tastes are traditional in the sense of classic pop music, though she is not afraid to blur the lines and add her own unique touches. She continues her musings thus:

“At this time I got an exposure to appreciate and learn some of legendary music’s greatest: Bob Marley and the Wailers, Lucky Dube, Jimi Hendrix, The Doors, John Lennon, Etta James, Nina Simone, Franco, Miriam Makeba, Dinah Washington, Pink Floyd, Sting, Elton John – to name just a few who have so inspired me in writing my music.”

She describes her style as an illustration of neo-Afro soul music. In this spirit it fuses the tones and beats of hip hop and reggae, and contains more meaningful themes than is often typical of pop.

She writes of this, “The songs I have recorded so far exemplify my personal take on life. My philosophy features ideologies from my African influences, with fusions from African-centered and Five-Percent theologies, the complex views of diverse African cultural theologies, and its complex interpretation of strong cultural beliefs in our modern and evolving African culture. The majority of Ms. Sunshine music is greatly influenced by my beliefs of the Nation of Gods and Earths, and by my African roots and heritage.”

“Red Umbrella” by Ms. Sunshine is available online worldwide beginning spring of 2013.

-S. McCauley

Staff Press Release Writer

MondoTunes

The single “Red Umbrella” is distributed globally by MondoTunes (www.MondoTunes.com) and is available at iTunes for convenient purchase and download

MondoTunes (www.mondotunes.com) supplies the largest music distribution in the world and provides upstream services for many major labels in search of breakout artists. While most independent distributors reach only 45-50 retailers despite charging needless monthly and yearly fees, MondoTunes reaches over 750 retailers and mobile partners in over 100 world regions without any monthly or yearly fees.